Joining Auroville

Join Auroville

“Greetings from Auroville to all [people] . . of
goodwill. Are invited to Auroville all those who thirst for progress and aspire
to a higher and truer life.”

The
Mother, 28.2.68

If you are thinking of coming to
live in Auroville it is better to make a preliminary visit before making any
final commitment. If you decide to join, please get in touch with the
Entry Servicebefore returning to your home country, and obtain from them a
letter of recommendation. This is an essential document, required for applying
for an Entry Visa to join this international township. It is issued to persons who are known
to Auroville.

Coming to Auroville from abroad

An Entry Visa for Auroville can be obtained
through Indian Embassies / Missions abroad with the letter of recommendation
issued by the Auroville Foundation through the Entry Service in Auroville.
Under “type of visa” an X or the word Entry is marked. This visa allows a
non-Indian to reside in Auroville with the possibility of extending the
duration of stay. It should be noted that the date from which the visa is valid
may vary from country to country; normally it begins from the date of issue,
but this point should be clarified when applying for a visa.

As soon as possible after arrival, people
should go to the Auroville Residents Service (RS) situated in the Town Hall. The RS will prepare the necessary
documents for registration with the Regional Registration Office (RRO), where
the person will be registered to reside in India. This registration has to be
done within14 daysof arrival in India. Anyone not managing to register in
that time will be required to pay a penalty imposed by the RRO.

On arrival in Auroville

Non-Indians: Should fill in an Arrival Form at the Residents Service office within 48 hours of arrival in Auroville,
and contact the Entry Service at this time also. The process of extending one’s
Entry Visa can thus be started immediately, as this can sometimes be a
drawn-out and complex process. The Government will normally grant an extension
of the Entry Visa and give a Residential Permit, provided the person concerned
is living and working in Auroville as an Honorary Voluntary Worker. (Please
note: a Tourist Visa cannot be extended or converted into an Entry Visa.)

Indian Citizens: If you are an Indian
citizen, please register with Entry Service at their office in the Multimedia
Centre at the Town Hall within one week of your arrival. Only when you have done so can the
process of joining Auroville begin.

Financial contributions

Both Newcomers and Aurovilians contribute a
fixed monthly amount towards Auroville. These contributions are used to
maintain the existing infrastructure of Auroville, including roads, health
services, education facilities, Newcomer housing etc. Additionally, a one-time
administration fee contribution is requested from everyone, and you will be
asked to donate a repatriation fund amount. For foreigners a return ticket to
their home country needs to be shown to the Financial Service, or an amount
equivalent to the cost of such a ticket deposited with the Service. This latter
sum will be returned to you should you decide or be requested to leave
Auroville, or upon becoming an Aurovilian.

If someone genuinely cannot make these
contributions, the situation will be considered individually. More important
than the monetary contribution is one’s contribution through regular and useful
work for the community.

Other expenses

Newcomers are expected to maintain
themselves and their dependents for at least the first year. After that, as any
other Aurovilian, they are expected to continue maintaining themselves for so
long as the financial means allow it. The overall cost of living varies
depending on individual needs and life style, but for most people a minimum of
Rs.6,000 per person per month is needed to meet the most basic expenses. In
addition, useful initial purchases may include a bicycle (Rs.3,000), moped
(Rs.40,000) or motorcycle (Rs.45-70,000), plus bedding and simple furniture
ranging from Rs.6,000 upwards. Then there is the question of housing.

Housing

As there is currently a housing shortage in
Auroville, it may be difficult for Newcomers, particularly those with families,
to find a suitable place to stay. Auroville cannot yet afford to build houses
for all those joining, and one should therefore come prepared to live in a
temporary home, and if possible to pay for the construction of an apartment or
house. Most residences in Auroville are built with contributions made by
Auroville residents and Newcomers. There are architects and building units to
assist with construction. The location of new houses is finalised in
consultation with the group overseeing the development of Auroville. Meanwhile,
there are some Newcomer houses/units available to accommodate families or
individuals for up to two years (details can be obtained from the Housing
Service). If you would like to live in one of these, please contact the Entry
Service before arriving in Auroville, so they can inform you about availability
and the financial conditions.

Newcomers have to obtain permission from
the Entry Service before beginning to build their own residence. During the
newcomer period, one cannot be a trustee of any trust under the Auroville
Foundation; one cannot receive a ‘maintenance without the approval of the Entry
Service, and cannot vote in General or Residents Assembly meetings or in the
election of bodies like the Auroville Council and Working Committee.

Repatriation Fund

This is a fund built up from the special
contribution that non-Indian Newcomers make on joining Auroville. The fund is used to
provide loans to financially hard-up Aurovilians needing urgent repatriation on
a short- or long-term basis. Later, the beneficiary, or his/her family, is
expected to reimburse the Fund. The Fund is not used for repatriation of
Newcomers, as their needs are covered by their return air ticket (to be shown
to the Financial Service), or by them depositing with the Financial Service an
amount equivalent to such a ticket. (This deposit is returned upon one’s
becoming an Aurovilian or on leaving.)

Aurovilian status

The status of “Aurovilian” is accorded
following a successfully completed Newcomer period. This status may very
exceptionally be withdrawn or temporarily suspended if a behaviour clearly
becomes incompatible with Auroville’s ideals or fundamental standards of social
conduct, though only after all other reasonable efforts at solving the issue
and correcting the unacceptable behaviour have failed.